{ARC Review } Talon by Julie Kagawa

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Title: Talon
Series: Talon #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: 1st November 2014
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: eARC provided by HarlequinTeen for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5

BLURB:
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

An Exciting New Series With Vibrant Characters & Intriguing Storyline!

REVIEW:
The story:
Talon is an exciting new series set in a world where Dragons are real. Ember and her twin brother Dante arrive in the small beach town for their final training mission before they are given their work placement by Talon. They must blend in and become part of the human world, which they do well at first. They both make friends and Ember starts to build a close relationship with the intense and quiet Garret. Little does she know he belongs to a group of Dragon Hunters, The Order of St George.

Things start to get even more complicated, when Ember meets a rogue dragon, Riley, who has shunned Talon's system to go on the run. At first Ember doesn't trust him, but as he reveals more secrets about the inner workings and corruption of Talon, Ember starts to question her future. With so many people out for Ember's blood, knowing who she can trust gets very complicated.

The characters:
Ember, is sweet and a little naive to the world she lives in. She wants freedom and a carefree Summer at the beach. It's not until later in the book, that she really starts to grow up and see the dangers around her. Her narrative voice was actually very realistic for a teenage girl. And I loved that when it came down to it, she knew how to defend and stand up for herself - very empowering.

Garret, is a quite and gentle guy of the surface, but underneath that, he's a dragon slayer. He's has always believed everything The Order of St George has told him about dragons…until he met Ember. While all his training tells him she must be a dragon who can't be trusted, he can't deny that she seems like a kind a caring girl, and his attraction towards her causes him to start questioning his beliefs. 

Riley is a very confident character. He know what he wants and how to get it. For the first half of the book he is quite a mystery, but we do get to know him a bit better in the second half, and he is a very loyal person, and dedicated to protecting those around him. I can't wait to see more of him.

Dante, Ember's twin brother, is a confusing character. It's obvious he cares for Ember and wants to protect her. But he's also very dedicated to Talon. Sometimes I felt like he was completely blinded by that devotion, that he couldn't see what was right in front of him. I'm excited by the possibly of seeing more of him in the next book and hopefully watching him grow. 

The romance:
Ember & Garret's relationship is really quite adorable. Neither have any experience with dating and they are both very hesitant to make the first move. Garret's doesn't understand his attraction to Ember, especially since she might be a dragon. And Ember is confused by her feeling for Garret, because she's always been taught that dragons don't feel human emotions. The big question, is there a love triangle? Well…sort of. While nothing really happens with Ember & Riley, it's clear that there is something between them. I'm guessing the next book is the series will explore their relationship further.

The writing:
While this book took a little while to get going for me, once it did it was excellent. It's told in dual 1st person POV of Ember & Garret. But about half way through, we start to get some chapters told from Riley's POV, which I really enjoyed. It gave the story a lot more depth to be able to hear the thoughts of all three main characters.

FINAL WORD:
Talon is an exciting new series with vibrant characters and intriguing storyline. The fantastic epilogue raises a lot of questions for the next instalment, and I simply can't wait! I'm curious if the next cover will be blue??

CONTENT:
Sexuality: mild / some kissing, minor passing references to sex
Violence: medium / some fight scenes, guns, shootings & references to murder
Language: medium / occasional f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild

{ARC Review} Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

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Title: Black Ice
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Published: 7th Oct 2014
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller/Survival
Source: Paperback ARC provided by Simon & Schuster for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5

BLURB:
Britt Phieffer has never been that adventurous, but that's about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trip with her and go trekking through the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming.
But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, and find two knights in shining armour, Shaun and Mason, who are also hiding out.

But all is not as it seems, and Britt quickly discovers that the guys are there for reasons other than hiking…dangerous reasons that mean they need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, Britt is forced to guide them down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to get out of this alive is to pretend she is on their side. 

But playing nice is hard, especially when Britt is unsure whether Mason, gorgeous and sexy, is the enemy or an ally. And as she begins to lose track of who is in control it is only a matter of time before things turn deadly…

A survival story full of suspense with a dash of romance!

REVIEW:
The story:
After setting off on their Spring Break hiking in the mountains, Britt and her best friend Kobie get stranded in a massive snow storm. Trekking to a nearby cabin, they stubble upon two guys, Mason & Shaun, believing they can help shelter them until the storm passes. But it soon becomes clear that they are in even more danger than ever. Forced to help guide the two men off the mountain, Britt is pushed to her limits, mentally & physically. Knowing that several girls have gone missing or died in the mountains is the past, Britt starts to question what these guys are running from, and soon it become's unclear who is on who's side.

This book is a fast paced and chilling story full of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat until the very end, desperate to know if Britt was going to survive. I was a little worried at first that Britt was going to be a weak heroine, and at first she was. But she learns to rely on herself to survive. She becomes a stronger person and embraces an inner strength she didn't even know she had.

The characters:
I was surprised to see how much Britt grew during those few days she spent on the mountain. At first I felt she was a very weak and naive girl. She relies of everyone around her and never really takes any responsibility. But after being forced into protecting herself from her kidnapers and survive in the dangerous conditions, she discovers a stronger more resilient person within, and I liked this version of Britt much better.

Mason has a question mark over him the whole time. We know there is more to him that what he's letting on, but whether it's good or bad, we don't know. What is clear is that he does have a conscience and wants to protect Britt, despite being partly responsible for get kidnapping.

Korbie, Britt's best friend (if you can really call her that), is an extremely shallow character. She's vapid, materialistic and is not exactly that nice to Britt. I can't say I really liked anything about her. Her brother Calvin was much the same, and to be honest I can't see what Britt ever saw in him either. He's vain and was always making fun of her, I just couldn't stand either of them.

The romance:
I'm glad to say there is no love triangle in this book! Mason is the character that Britt is drawn to and despite the fact he's involved in kidnapping her, I personally didn't feel there was any Stockholm Syndrome occurring (it's hard to explain why without spoiling the plot). What I loved about the relationship between Mason & Britt was how he respected her abilities and showed her she was stronger than she believed. The flashbacks of her relationship with Calvin always felt like he believed he was superior, but Mason and Britt were represented as equals.

The writing:
I really enjoyed the writing style, with flashbacks to Bitt's relationships with both Kobie and Calvin. We get to see the weak girl Britt used to be, compared to the stronger girl she becomes. I have to admit I guessed who the murder was very early on, BUT this didn't ruin it at all. I was on the edge of my seat and actually gasped out loud during some parts! And the epilogue gave the perfect closure to the story!

FINAL WORD:
Black Ice is a gripping, fast paced thriller that had me throughly entertained the entire time. A survival story full of suspense with a dash of romance, this is sure to please YA fans.

CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / references to sex & virginity
Violence: medium-strong / kidnapping, dead bodies, guns, shooting, murders etc
Language: medium / occasional f word
Drugs & alcohol: mild-medium / some minor underage drinking

{Review + GIVEAWAY} Finding You by Elizabeth Lee

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Title: Finding You
Series: Escaping #2
Author: Elizabeth Lee
Published: 20th Oct 2014
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5

BLURB:
Being the wild child has worked for Mallory Vandaveer for most of her life. She’s the good time girl, up for anything–and everyone in her small town knows it. But when her sister came home after years of being away, long hidden secrets came out. Turns out, Mallory isn’t who she thought she was. And now everything starts to feel like a lie. In order to figure out who she is she’ll have to set out on a journey to find the one man who holds the answers.

Everett Boone is in hiding. Hiding from his past and the press and the demands of a career he put on hold after tragedy struck. When a young woman with secrets of her own blows into town and rents the apartment next to his, he’ll have to face the past he was trying to escape in order to understand his feelings for her.

They’ll both have to dig deep inside themselves to discover whether or not they’re capable of being enough for one another. Finding the person you’re meant to love isn’t the problem. Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

Book Two in the Escaping Series

Full of sassy witty dialogue with a fun and flirty romance!

REVIEW:
The story:
Boone comes from a wealthy family, but despite appearing to have had a prvilleged upbringing, all Boone really wanted was the attention and repspect of his father, a pro golfer. Boone took up goft himself and pushed himself to be the best, but after tragedy strikes, Boones left that life behind him, to live a quieter life. That is until the fiesty Mallory moves in next door and shakes his world completely.

Mallory is still coming to terms with the fact that the man she thought was her father isn't infact her biological father after all. After tracking down her real father and landing on his doorstep, she suddenly toungtied and unable to tell him the truth. She decides maybe it's best to get to know him first before revealing her identy. In the meantime, her new neighbour offers some much needed distraction from her family drama. And as sparks fly between Mallory and Boone, it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out.

The characters:
Mallory is one feisty little firecracker. She's bold and outspoken, and not afraid to have a little fun. But her life isn't all sweet and easy. Not only is she dealing with discovering her real father, she's also still affected by a nasty broken heart. Not willing to put her heart on the line again, she convinces herself she's happy with casual commitment free flings. But Boone challenges her and makes her question what she really wants.

Boone was a very mysterious character. He's quite closed off at first and very reluctant to reveal any private details to Mallory. He's been through a lot recently, and hasn't really dealt with it yet. Mallory's vibrant sassy personality brings Boone out of his self and forces him to confront his past and work towards a positive future. Both Mallory and Boone are really good influences on each other, and bring out the best in themselves.

The romance:
After getting her heart broken Mallory isn't looking for commitment. But Boone changes all that. I loved that Boone wasn't afraid to admit he didn't want a one night stand. It was refreshing to have a hero that hadn't sleep with an endless line of women to overcome his past. I really respected his attitude and the way he treated Mallory. These two had great chemistry from the beginning and it just built from there.

The writing:
This story was told in dual POV from both Mallory & Boone, and I think that worked really well. It allowed us to understand both characters motivations, in particular Boone. Since much of his past isn't revealed to Mallory until later in the book, it was important for the reader to her his perspective and have him explain what he was thinking. 

FINAL WORD:
Finding You is full of sassy witty dialogue with a fun and flirty romance! The characters past brings a depth and substance creating a strong and beautifully told story.

CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / some sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild

GIVEAWAY:

{Cover Reveal} Writing A Wrong by Tiffany King

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From USA Today Bestselling Author Tiffany King comes the continuing story of Nicole and Alec.

WRITING A WRONG
Available Dec. 1, 2014


Pre-sale Links

BLURB
What comes next, once your happily ever after has been written? 

Real life. 

Nicole and Alec are doing their best to live the HEA she's been dreaming for and writing about in her books. The problem is she's been coping with her newly achieved success as an author and the responsibilities that are transitioning her away from the introverted life she prefers. He's neck deep in medical school and stuck at the hospital almost every waking hour. 

Something's got to give.

Sometimes, what looks like happily ever after from the start can become something entirely different on the other side.

Finding time together can be a challenge, but Nicole and Alec seem to have things figured out. That is, until Nicole's publisher sends her on an extended book tour for her upcoming release, putting an unexpected strain on their relationship. When Alec begins hanging out with his ex, who also happens to be the mother of his little girl, Nicole can't help feeling that maybe her ever after is about to turn into a never mind. 

Things turn from bad to worse when Nicole is faced with what she perceives as betrayal, leaving the door open to Greg, her new public relations rep who is more than willing to offer up a shoulder to dump her woes on. Betrayal can be a two-way street and Nicole must now decide which way the story goes from here.

Writing a happily ever after was so much easier than actually living one… 

{Cover Reveal} On Paper Wings by Magan Vernon

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Today we're revealing the cover in the highly anticipated sequel to My Paper Heart! This is the second book in this southern romance novel and you get your chance to go back to Louisiana and spend some time with Libby, Blaine, and turn up the southern heat!

Title: On Paper Wings (My Paper Heart #2)
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Release Date: November, 2014
Cover Designer: Elizabeth Sharp with Sharp Designs

BLURB 
Taking a leap of faith is one thing, but learning to get up when you fall is a whole other story.

 After a summer spent with her Aunt Dee in tiny Elsbury, Louisiana, former Chicago princess Libby Gentry traded in her old life for a new one with the southern Casanova, Blaine Crabtree.
But just when she thinks things are changing for the better, old girlfriends of Blaine's start coming back into the picture, and not a single one of them are friendly or bad on the eyes. Combine the worry of passing her first semester at St. Joseph Community College and sponsoring her tomboy cousin in Cotillion and Libby can barely keep up.

It's hard to learn to fly on paper wings. They're flimsy and can easily break. But if Libby can mend a broken heart, hopefully she can learn to fly.

Add it to your GoodReads now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media. You can find her online on 

{ARC Review} Sideswiped by Lia Riley

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Title: Sideswiped
Series: Off The Map #2
Author: Lia Riley
Published: 7th Oct 2014
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5

BLURB:
It was only meant to last the summer . . .

Talia Stolfi has seen more than her share of loss in her twenty-one years. But then fate brought her Bran Lockhart, and her dark world was suddenly and spectacularly illuminated. So if being with Bran means leaving her colorless NorCal life for rugged and wild Australia, then that’s what she’ll do. But as much as Talia longs to give herself over completely to a new beginning, the fears of her past are still lurking in the shadows.

Bran Lockhart knows that living without the beautiful girl who stole his heart will be torment, so he’ll take whatever time with her he can. But even though she has packed up her life in California and is back in his arms for the time being, she can’t stay forever. And the remaining time they have together is ticking by way too fast. Though fate seems determined to tear them apart, they won’t give up without a fight—because while time may have limits, their love is infinite . . .

Sideswiped is multi layered book full of humour, heartbreak and emotional depth

REVIEW:
The story:
Sideswiped picks up right where we left off in Upside Down. Talia is getting ready to pack up her life and move to Tasmania for the remainder of her studies, to be with the man she love, Bran. But their time together appears to have an expiration date, with Talia's visa set to expire within only a few short months. Talia and Bran both have ideas of what will happen, and how they can stay together, but can they agree on a future that will keep them together, or will the world outside their bubble of happiness tear them apart forever?

This book gave me ALL THE FEELS and tore my damn heart out. All the things that these two have to deal with just seems so unfair; Talia's visa expiring, her horrible mother, her OCD, missing her sister, and then there's Bran struggling with his parents, and most importantly trying to hold onto their relationship. Everything that happened in this book, feels like it is a necessary step to what will hopefully become a Happily Ever After in the final book.

The characters:
Talia has grown up so much since we first met her. She's focussed on a future that will make both her and Bran happy. It was painful to see her struggling with her OCD - but it was good to see her issues didn't just evaporate overnight. She works so hard to overcome them, and Bran is there to give her the encouragement & support when she needs it. She's growing into a strong confident young woman.

Bran still has a lot of growing up to do. He's running from his past, and trying so hard to be different from his father, and yet struggling to find a way to follow his dreams. He allows his past to affect how he views the world and it's affecting not only his career, but his relationship too.

The romance:
Sideswiped shows us how a real relationship takes hard work and most importantly trust. Bran is still so scared of loosing Talia that he clings onto her for dear life. He doesn't realise that by doing so, he's doing more harm than good. I was so impressed with the decisions Talia makes about their future - she remains strong and makes the difficult chooses that needed to be made for the good of their relationship. This book hurt my heart, but I know these two are destined for each other and will find a way to make their love last.

The writing:
Lia has a way with words, the dialogue between Bran and Talia has me snort giggling and crying tears of laughter it was that comical! It was reminiscent of an episode of Gilmore Girls…only a little dirtier perhaps! But she has also woven so many other emotional layers into the story, it created and incredibly powerful read.

FINAL WORD:
Sideswiped is multi layered book full of humour, heartbreak and emotional depth. This is one incredible NA series you don't want to miss!

CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / some sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium / main character get extremely drunk

{ARC Review} Promise Me This be Christina Lee

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Title: Promise Me This
Series: Between Breaths #4
Author: Christina Lee
Published: 7th Oct 2014
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5

BLURB:
A new love will test the boundaries of passion between a privileged boy next door and the tattooed, blue-haired girl who helps him embrace his wild side... 

Nate has developed quite a playboy reputation around campus. It's not that he doesn't respect or trust women; he doesn't trust himself. The men in Nate’s family are prone to abusive behavior—a dirty secret that Nate’s been running from his entire life—so Nate doesn't do relationships. But he can’t help himself around one girl…

Jessie is strong, independent, and works at a tattoo parlor. Nate can’t resist getting close to her, even if it’s strictly a friendship. But it doesn't take long for Nate to admit that what he wants with Jessie is more than just friendly.

With Jessie, he can be himself and explore what he’s always felt was a terrifying darkness inside him. Even when Nate begins to crave her in a way that both shocks and horrifies him, Jessie still wants to know every part of him. Testing their boundaries together will take a trust that could render them inseparable… or tear them apart.

Promise Me This is made of all things hot and sexy!

REVIEW:
The story:
Nate the privileged playboy & Jessie the tattooed carefree girl are complete opposites on the surface. Working together at the Raw Tattoo parlour, they become close friends, never giving into the attraction that sparks between them. Nate is adamant that he doesn't do relationships, fearful of unleashing a darkness he believes hides within him. But after they take off on an impromptu road trip for Jessie's photography assignment, they get to know each of on a deeper level and the attraction between them becomes so much harder to fight.

It was difficult to watch Nate struggle with his inner demons, especially since he was so wrong about the evil person he believed he could be. But it was beautiful how supportive Jessie was with him, and how she not only helped him, but encouraged him to seek out professional help too. She's so strong and was an incredibly positive influence in Nate's life.

The characters:
Nate might come across as the happy carefree player, but there is so much more lurking under the surface. After his horrible childhood, he fears there is a dark and violent monster inside him. He has such a low view of himself, it took a lot of internal soul searching and help to finally see that he is a truly good and caring man.

Jessie is such a vibrant character. She's full of life and driven to achieve her goals of becoming a photographer. I also really respected the fact that she's been through a lot too, after the death of her father. But she never let that break her, instead she used it as motivation to make something of her life.

The romance:
Jessie and Nate have always had chemistry, with their cheeky teasing banter, but never acted on…until now. And as soon as they give into their attraction, boy do things get HOT! Their romance is intense and deeply passionate. It was beautiful to see Nate finally feel like he could embrace his sexuality with Jessie and not hide or feel ashamed of who he really is.

The writing:
This is by far Cristina's sexiest novel in the series. The sex scenes are more experimental and also a little riske. BUT Cristina never fell into the trap of turning this book into an erotica rather than a romance novel with sex scenes - and this is extremely important to me as lately a lot of authors have done this. The story and character development never suffer and the actual storyline still takes centre stage.

FINAL WORD:
Promise Me This is made of all things hot and sexy! An with a deep, emotional story & rich, complex characters PROMISE ME THIS makes for one powerful read!

CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / several sex scenes (including some mild domination)
Violence: medium-strong / scenes of domestic violence
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild

{ARC Review + GIVEAWAY} The Fine Art Of Pretending by Rachel Harris

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Title: The Fine Art Of Pretending
Series: The Fine Art Of Pretending #1
Author: Rachel Harris
Published: 30th Sept 2014
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 5/5

BLURB:
According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

It's impossible not to finish this book without a huge smile on your face!

REVIEW:
The story:
So after seeing countless teaser over what feels like the last year I have been so excited to finally read this book. So it goes without saying I had HUGE expectations. And I'm happy to say I was not disappointed! This books is full of everything that makes me adore YA contemporary romances; the sweet innocence of teenage girls, flirty with boys, girly chats…about flirting with boys and all the teenage angst and fun!

Aly is a sporty girl who's never really cared about make up and wearing trending cloths. But she's tired of being seen and 'one of the guys' and 'just a friend'. She want the boys at her school to start looking at her different, and so begins 'Operation Sex Appeal'. With the help of her two best friends, Aly gives herself a make over. But if she wants school 'hottie', Justin, to ask her to the homecoming, the makeup and new cloths aren't enough. Aly needs to be seen with a boy, to show everyone she's hook up material, and who better to pose as her pretend boyfriend, than her best friend, Brandon (who is very popular with the ladies). Many awkward, sweet, and oh so hilarious situations ensue, and it's not long before her plan starts to work. But, it's only a matter of time before the 'pretend' dating starts to feel a little more real than either of them had expected.

The characters:
Aly was such a sweet character. She had a sweet naivety to her at times that was so endearing. Her thoughts and insecurities would be relatable for most teenage girls. But it was how she acted around her small group of real friends that I loved. She's more confident in her real personality and not ashamed of it. It was really beautiful to see her slowly embrace that more and more as the book progressed. It's something that a lot of young girls struggle with, so I found it really heartwarming to see.

Brandon was a little closed off at first. Yes he's happy and bright and loves to have fun, but you know there is a sadness underneath that bubbly personality. He's had pain in his past, that affects how he approaches life - it's all about having fun in the moment, and not really planning ahead. He's also a very kind and decent guy, who had me swooning all over the place! He's such a yummy little sweetheart!!

I must also mention how fabulous it was to see some positive parental figures in this book. Rachel proves that not all YA characters need abusive or absent parents! Aly's mum is happy and supportive and Brandon's mum is a loving and hardworking single mother. There was one conversation that Brandon had with his mum, and the advice she gave him made me well up it was that beautiful.

The romance:
Aly & Brandon have been the closest of friends for years, but Aly has held stronger feelings for him for some time. And it's clear to anyone who sees them together that he feels the same way. But he's fear of to loose her as a friend, or having he's hear broken that's preventing from fully embracing he's feeling towards Aly. These two were so frustrating at times - I can't tell you the number of times I yelled at my book "JUST KISS ALREADY!!". I absolutely adored Aly & Brandon and by the end I was a pile of mush.

The writing:
Rachel is the queen of swoony boys…seriously. She writes boys who are sweet, funny and most importantly, caring. I love that all her characters have a moral conscience, and although they all make mistakes at times, they learn from them and become better people for it. If I had young daughters I would want to read Rachel's books, with heroines to look up to and heroes who know how to respect girls.

FINAL WORD:
The Fine Art of Pretending has everything you could want from a YA romance; laughs, tears, swoon worthy boys and heartfelt romance! It's impossible not to finish this book without a huge smile of your face!

CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / heavy kissing, references to sex, virginity & casual hook-ups
Violence: mild / minor fight between two school boys
Language: medium / several f words, sh*t etc
Drugs & alcohol: mild-medium / underage drinking at parties


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning and Bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls next door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, and LOVES talking with readers.

Links:
Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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